Frank Christian
Following Argentina’s Copa America celebrations, Wesley Fofana and the French Football Federation (FFF) criticized the team for what they perceived as “racially offensive and discriminatory remarks.”
Enzo Fernandez, a teammate of Fofana at Chelsea, posted a video of Argentina’s celebrations on Instagram, which led to the outcry. Fernandez has since apologized for the incident.
The FFF announced their decision to file a legal complaint regarding Argentina’s behavior and called out FIFA’s president and the president of the Argentina Football Association to address the situation.
Overview of Argentina’s Celebration Controversy
Argentina’s players were captured chanting and making inappropriate references after their Copa America final win against Colombia. The actions included remarks about the family heritage of France’s players along with alleged homophobic and transphobic slurs.
These chants were believed to have originated from the World Cup 2022 final where Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout.
French Football Federation’s Response
The FFF strongly denounced the racist and discriminatory nature of the remarks made by Argentina’s players and supporters towards the French team. They expressed their disapproval and decided to file a legal complaint against Argentina and FIFA for the insulting and discriminatory remarks.
Relationship Between Wesley Fofana and Enzo Fernandez
Fofana and Fernandez, who have been teammates at Chelsea for 18 months, found themselves on opposing sides during the France vs. Argentina rivalry in the 2022 World Cup final. In response to the allegations, Fofana, along with other Chelsea players, unfollowed Fernandez on Instagram.
Current Investigations
Official comments from FIFA and the Argentina Football Association are pending regarding the incident. Meanwhile, Chelsea confirmed an internal disciplinary process and emphasized their stance against any form of discriminatory behavior.
Enzo Fernandez’s Apology
In light of the controversy, Fernandez issued an apology through his Instagram stories, acknowledging the offensive nature of the video and expressing regret for his involvement in the inappropriate behavior.
